- PPF Points
- 2,100
Alright, let’s get real—everyone loves to talk a big game online, but hardly anybody spills the actual guts and glory it takes to hit that first $100K year. Me? I’m not too shy about it. I grinded to get here, so yeah, I’m owning it. That six-figure milestone used to feel like chasing the Loch Ness Monster: everyone says it’s out there, but you low-key doubt you’ll ever see it yourself.
Why Don’t Folks Share Their Real “First $100K”?
Let’s not kid ourselves—the internet is jam-packed with two types: people showing off their “multi-million” whatever, or people acting like none of it matters. The middle bits? The late-night doubts, fumbling starts, the sinking feeling that maybe you’re just spinning your wheels? That’s the stuff people sweep under the rug. It’s not exactly viral content, is it?
But screw that, honestly. The road here was awkward, gritty, sometimes embarrassing, and full of “what am I even doing?” moments. And I’m telling you about it because if you’re on the grind too, maybe you need to hear it’s not supposed to look glamorous.
Starting from Nothing (Literally Zip)
I didn’t hop into this with some Shark Tank idea or a wad of family cash. Nah, it was more like:
No clients.
No connections.
No audience.
And just me, living that cubicle life, half-asleep at a desk and itching for more.
So I dove in—clueless and maybe a little desperate for something different.
Trying Everything (And Bombing At Most of It)
First few months? Pure chaos. I tried basically every side hustle you’ve seen on YouTube. Most of it flopped. Then, lightbulb moment—I realized I was actually pretty darn good at helping scrappy business owners get their social media act together. Nothing generic; I got real, got specific, started talking straight to my people.
Ditched the scattershot approach, and started building something worth talking about.
Building Trust (and Not Sounding Like a Bot)
I couldn’t just spam LinkedIn and hope for the best. So I started putting out useful stuff every week. Wins, fails, random stories from the trenches—whatever felt real, I shared it. Didn’t matter if it flopped, as long as it helped one person somewhere.
Slowly, folks started sliding into my DMs. A few even hired me. That was my green light.
The First Real Payday (No, Not Glamorous)
Ah yes, my first paid gig. Nothing fancy at all. Someone wanted an Instagram refresh and a content calendar. That was it. Did a good job, they told their friends, and suddenly I was in business. Freaked out a bit, of course, and then threw everything back into tools and learning new tricks.
Leveling Up (a.k.a Making More, Without Losing It)
Now I had receipts—proof I wasn’t just another wannabe. So I started packaging my services, tried coaching, made some digital stuff (templates, guides, all that jazz). Having different income streams made everything simpler. At least when one tanked, another would keep me afloat.
Smackdowns and Head Games (You Never Really Beat ‘Em)
Truth: Earning more brought new flavors of imposter syndrome. The more people paid, the more I questioned my every move. Comparing myself to the “big league” players made me feel small all over again. Eventually, I learned to hype myself up, pop some champagne for even the tiniest win, and mute the “you’re not good enough” noise in my head.
Celebrate Everything (Seriously)
Crossing $100K wasn’t a confetti moment. It was more like seeing your bank app after grinding nonstop, realizing you’d done it, and taking a two-minute happy dance break in your kitchen. Every little win, every shoutout from a client, every stranger signing up for my newsletter—they kept me going.
What Actually Worked (Not Just Instagram Quotes)
1. Messy Beats Perfect
Kept posting real talk and advice, even if my branding looked like trash. Showing up > overthinking.
2. Friends Over Followers
You’d be shocked what just being cool and helpful with people can do.
3. Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Gig
I stacked my offers so nothing could wipe me out overnight.
4. Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor
Yeah, you need breaks. Or you flame out—trust me, learned that the hard way.
5. Mindset is 90% Of It
Half the battle is not quitting when you feel like you suck.
Why I’m Actually Bragging (And Why You Maybe Should Too)
Most folks hide this messy first 100K because it’s all trial-and-error and ugly crying and self-doubt. But screw hiding. I went through hell for every dollar of that—so yeah, I’m proud. If you’re even halfway there, you should be proud too.
What’s Next?
Well look, I’m not about to coast now. Six figures was just the starter quest. Next up? Blowing past those numbers. C’mon, why stop now?
Why Don’t Folks Share Their Real “First $100K”?
Let’s not kid ourselves—the internet is jam-packed with two types: people showing off their “multi-million” whatever, or people acting like none of it matters. The middle bits? The late-night doubts, fumbling starts, the sinking feeling that maybe you’re just spinning your wheels? That’s the stuff people sweep under the rug. It’s not exactly viral content, is it?
But screw that, honestly. The road here was awkward, gritty, sometimes embarrassing, and full of “what am I even doing?” moments. And I’m telling you about it because if you’re on the grind too, maybe you need to hear it’s not supposed to look glamorous.
Starting from Nothing (Literally Zip)
I didn’t hop into this with some Shark Tank idea or a wad of family cash. Nah, it was more like:
No clients.
No connections.
No audience.
And just me, living that cubicle life, half-asleep at a desk and itching for more.
So I dove in—clueless and maybe a little desperate for something different.
Trying Everything (And Bombing At Most of It)
First few months? Pure chaos. I tried basically every side hustle you’ve seen on YouTube. Most of it flopped. Then, lightbulb moment—I realized I was actually pretty darn good at helping scrappy business owners get their social media act together. Nothing generic; I got real, got specific, started talking straight to my people.
Ditched the scattershot approach, and started building something worth talking about.
Building Trust (and Not Sounding Like a Bot)
I couldn’t just spam LinkedIn and hope for the best. So I started putting out useful stuff every week. Wins, fails, random stories from the trenches—whatever felt real, I shared it. Didn’t matter if it flopped, as long as it helped one person somewhere.
Slowly, folks started sliding into my DMs. A few even hired me. That was my green light.
The First Real Payday (No, Not Glamorous)
Ah yes, my first paid gig. Nothing fancy at all. Someone wanted an Instagram refresh and a content calendar. That was it. Did a good job, they told their friends, and suddenly I was in business. Freaked out a bit, of course, and then threw everything back into tools and learning new tricks.
Leveling Up (a.k.a Making More, Without Losing It)
Now I had receipts—proof I wasn’t just another wannabe. So I started packaging my services, tried coaching, made some digital stuff (templates, guides, all that jazz). Having different income streams made everything simpler. At least when one tanked, another would keep me afloat.
Smackdowns and Head Games (You Never Really Beat ‘Em)
Truth: Earning more brought new flavors of imposter syndrome. The more people paid, the more I questioned my every move. Comparing myself to the “big league” players made me feel small all over again. Eventually, I learned to hype myself up, pop some champagne for even the tiniest win, and mute the “you’re not good enough” noise in my head.
Celebrate Everything (Seriously)
Crossing $100K wasn’t a confetti moment. It was more like seeing your bank app after grinding nonstop, realizing you’d done it, and taking a two-minute happy dance break in your kitchen. Every little win, every shoutout from a client, every stranger signing up for my newsletter—they kept me going.
What Actually Worked (Not Just Instagram Quotes)
1. Messy Beats Perfect
Kept posting real talk and advice, even if my branding looked like trash. Showing up > overthinking.
2. Friends Over Followers
You’d be shocked what just being cool and helpful with people can do.
3. Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Gig
I stacked my offers so nothing could wipe me out overnight.
4. Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor
Yeah, you need breaks. Or you flame out—trust me, learned that the hard way.
5. Mindset is 90% Of It
Half the battle is not quitting when you feel like you suck.
Why I’m Actually Bragging (And Why You Maybe Should Too)
Most folks hide this messy first 100K because it’s all trial-and-error and ugly crying and self-doubt. But screw hiding. I went through hell for every dollar of that—so yeah, I’m proud. If you’re even halfway there, you should be proud too.
What’s Next?
Well look, I’m not about to coast now. Six figures was just the starter quest. Next up? Blowing past those numbers. C’mon, why stop now?
